RIDGEFIELD -- Lessons and repairs, custom instruments and prized brands draw enduring and new clientele into Blue Bus Music in Ridgefield.

The guitar shop carries specialized instruments such as Maton guitars from Australia. It recently relocated here from Katonah, N.Y., and is in a row of businesses including Dimitri's Diner.

Blue Bus Music is owned by Patrick and Sanna Nimmo, who ran the Katonah shop for 4 1/2 years. The relocation was about finding a suitable space to purchase in a downtown location with lots of parking.

Now at 6 Prospect St., the store is in a spot that was previously a cabinet shop.

Nimmo is a longtime guitarist and trumpeter, as well as a singer. He classifies himself as a blues and rock guitarist, and is also a guitar maker who is admired for his craftsmanship.

Katonah resident Richard Levine, a tax accountant, takes lessons from Nimmo. He spoke enthusiastically recently about a custom Fender Nimmo made for him; it was modeled after Blackie, Eric Clapton's black and white Stratocaster.

Levine, 56, said the guitar is amazing. "He (Nimmo) used the same hand-wound pickups used in the '60s. I also bought a mini Maton guitar from him, a three-quarter size guitar. It's all handmade with woods in Australia. It's like an acoustic electric guitar. Katonah's loss is Ridgefield's gain."

Private and group lessons are offered at Blue Bus. Nimmo also offers monthly open mic nites "to attract more players." One is scheduled for Saturday.

Meanwhile, the fact that he does repairs and carries brands that are hard to get creates a niche in his new neighborhood.

"We have unique offerings. Players are always in need of someone to help them out when they get in a bind," he said.

The business' name comes from the twice-sung lyrics, "the blue bus is calling us" in the 11-minute Doors song with a long guitar solo, "The End." Nimmo's shop offers guitar lessons in classical, flamenco, jazz, blues and rock, along with ukulele, piano and bass classes.

In addition to Maton guitars, he is a G&L dealer. "That's Leo Fender's (and others') company. Fender sold his company in 1965 and founded G&L.

The Maton, Nimmo added, "is the one Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel plays."